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Spoken word events worth knowing about in Toronto, February 2014.

The first month of 2014 has come and gone as quickly as any illusion of having a mild winter this time around. We huddled in dark, warm places listening to the words of others and, in some cases, sharing our own words. This was the reality of the spoken word community at the top of a brand new year. Now we roll into February, where lengthening days illuminate just a bit more about the history of Black folks, and fire from the mouths of wordsmiths is hot enough to melt the chill in our bones inflicted by a tyrannical Mother Nature. What gifts will be shared in this, the year's shortest month, among those who crave the power of the word? Read on to find out.

HOT TICKETS

WOMEN OF COLOUR POETRY SALON / FEBRUARY 5 / 6:30PM / URBAN GALLERY / PWYCThree powerful women come together to share their work in a showcase event sure to inform, educate and inspire respect for the paths they've followed to reach this point in their artistic careers. Bänoo Zan, the organizer of the event, shares the stage with Kanwal Rahim and Red Slam Collective's Mahlikah Awe:ri:

UNITY at U of T and Open Minds Respect Events present the second annual choose-your-own-team youth slam tournament for poets aged 12-22. Top prize for the winning team is $250. A showcase of beat boxing and breakdancing is also part of the festivities. The event will be hosted by Tomy Bewick, one of the GTA's top spoken word performer/organizers.

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO SPOKEN WORD CIRCUIT PRESENTS TITILOPE SONUGA / FEBRUARY 19, 20 & 26The SOSWC is a consortium of spoken word groups that stage monthly spoken word events in London, Guelph, Hamilton, Burlington, Toronto and York Region. Thanks to the support of Canada Council for the Arts, they bring a high-profile artist each month to perform at the venues on the circuit. This month, the Circuit welcomes award-winning author and Edmonton slam founder Titilope Sonuga at Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam (February 19) and Burlington Slam Project (February 20) and YorkSlam (February 26).

THE HUNGER / FEBRUARY 23 / 7PM / LULA LOUNGE / $20Dwayne Morgan's latest brainchild is a showcase of poets who show their hunger by going out and finding people who will attend the show to support their performance. The more people you bring, the better your billing, and the more advantages and privileges that you accrue for the show. This first edition will see Morgan hit the stage with Tomy Bewick, Word Mason, Bassam, Ian "Creo" Walters, Patrick de Belen, Alyestal Hamilton and 2013 national slam champion David Delisca. Make your way to Lula to see which poet is the hungriest.